A researcher from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) in Belgium has developed a paper testing device capable of analyzing water quality.
The “father” of this device is Grégoire Le Brun, a nanotechnology and biotechnology engineer who has spent the last three years researching and realizing the idea of using paper strips to test the quality of drinking water.
A researcher in Belgium has developed a paper testing device capable of analyzing water quality – (Image source: pecanstreet.org)
The testing strips operate on a very simple mechanism: just place a few drops of water on a sensor that works similarly to a pregnancy test or a Covid-19 test, and you will immediately receive results regarding the water quality.
Speaking about his initiative, Grégoire Le Brun – currently a PhD researcher at UCLouvain – stated that the development of this water quality analysis device aims to achieve two goals: to find an electronic solution that meets sustainable development objectives and to create a strong social impact.
To minimize the ecological and economic costs of the sensor, Grégoire Le Brun chose paper as the basic material. The paper used is nitrocellulose, a derivative of cellulose with special biological properties, capable of capturing bacteria and providing results displayed in just a few seconds through an electromagnetic measurement.
Notably, Grégoire Le Brun’s testing device has a reliability similar to traditional biological methods or electronic measurement devices but saves significant time and costs while being very environmentally friendly.
Moreover, in the future, the device could not only be used to detect bacteria and pathogens in drinking water but could also assess water hardness, pH levels, and ion content in water if further improvements are made.
Furthermore, the device facilitates access to information about water quality in industrial areas, remote regions, or even in challenging locations, aiming to reduce health risks associated with water source quality.
The King Baudouin Foundation of Belgium, which specializes in supporting young PhD researchers, awarded the Ernest du Bois Prize worth 20,000 euros for Grégoire Le Brun’s research project.
It is expected that Grégoire Le Brun’s paper water quality testing strips will soon be put to practical testing.
